Comparison between in situ and remotely-sensed storm microphysics and electrical characteristics
Abstract
During the Severe Thunderstorm Electrification/Precipitation Study (STEPS) in 2000 the armored T-28 research aircraft carried a modified High Volume Precipitation Spectrometer capable of both imaging and observing charge on hydrometeors. Published studies have used polarimetric radar and lightning mapping array (LMA) data to compare aggregate microphysical properties of STEPS storms to lightning activity and charge structure inferred from LMA observations. We present here detailed airborne in situ microphysical, thermodynamic, electric field, and hydrometeor charge data for representative thunderstorm passes. There is general agreement between in situ microphysical properties and those deduced from polarimetric radar, and in situ electric field and hydrometeor charge observations and charge distribution inferred from the LMA. The quantitative airborne data is compared to results from laboratory charge separation experiments and supports the importance of non-inductive charging processes in these storms following the Manchester/Cordoba laboratory results.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2012
- Bibcode:
- 2012AGUFMAE12A..07D
- Keywords:
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- 3314 ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES / Convective processes;
- 3324 ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES / Lightning